Omron Healthcare & Fitness Expert Bob Greene Encourage Americans To Make Every Step Count

LAKE FOREST, Ill., March 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite recommendations that suggest the average American should take around 10,000 steps a day to maintain proper fitness, many people take about half of that, averaging 5,117 steps daily. Even people in professions known for being on-the-go are often falling short when it comes to meeting walking goals. For example, according to data published by the National Institutes of Health and American Council on Exercise, physicians and nurses are logging on average 5,325 and 8,648, respectively. Coming in furthest from the 10,000-steps goal are office workers, taking an average of only 4,327 steps a day, followed by teachers, who average at about 4,726 steps.

Many people find it hard to carve out time in their busy schedules to fit in daily exercise, such as a gym class, a run on the treadmill or a long walk outside. However, daily exercise, added to the steps most people are already taking during the workday, can add up to the 10,000-steps goal. To help Americans walk more, Omron Healthcare, Inc. and Bob Greene, Oprah Winfrey's personal trainer and author of the book "20 Years Younger," have teamed up to create four new videos to encourage Americans to put a spring in their step and start tracking their progress daily. These motivational videos can be found at the Omron Facebook page at www.facebook.com/OmronFitness.

"What many people don't realize is that exercise doesn't have to require a huge time commitment and can actually fit into your daily routine – all it takes is adding a few extra steps throughout the day," said Greene. "It's very helpful to have a simple tool to keep you accountable as you work towards your fitness goals, which is why I recommend having an Omron pedometer as a partner to help motivate you and remind you to make every step count."

Greene suggests working up to the goal of 10,000 steps per day by walking for 30 to 60 minutes straight, or even in 10-minute increments over the course of the day. Research shows that using a pedometer can increase physical activity by about 2,000 steps – or an extra mile – each day, demonstrating that the Omron pedometer is a great motivational tool that can help push people to go further and reach their goals.

"Many people don't realize how close they are to achieving the 10,000 step daily goal," said Ranndy Kellogg, Omron vice president of marketing and product development. "Omron pedometers provide the extra motivation, and are accurate, easy to use and cater to anyone's needs."

Share how you're making every step count and see how you compare with others in your profession by posting your job, progress and tips for meeting your walking goals on the Omron Facebook page. While you're there, you can also enter Omron's "Make Every Step Count sweepstakes" between March 5 and April 2, 2012 for a chance to win a four-day, three-night stay for two at Canyon Ranch Spa in Tucson, Az. Weekly prizes include gift cards, Omron products, autographed Bob Greene books. Complete rules can be found at http://www.omronhealthcare.com/wp-content/uploads/Omron-Make-Every-Step-Count-Sweepstakes-Rules.pdf. 

Omron pedometers are available online, sporting goods retailers and select drugstores throughout the United States. For more information about Omron Pedometers, visit http://www.Facebook.com/OmronFitness or follow Omron on Twitter at https://twitter.com/OmronFitness. 

About Omron Healthcare, Inc.

Omron Healthcare, Inc., located in Bannockburn, IL, is the North and South American sales and marketing office of Omron Healthcare Group, a leading manufacturer and distributor of blood pressure monitors for home use. With more than 100 million monitors sold worldwide to date, Omron Healthcare Group was the first to introduce manual and digital blood pressure monitors into the home healthcare market. Omron Healthcare offers innovative products and medical devices for use in sites ranging from hospitals to the home in the blood pressure monitoring, fitness diagnostics, thermometry, and respiratory categories. Omron Healthcare markets clinically proven products that provide accurate health information to consumers and physicians and support positive lifestyle changes and health improvement. For more information, visit www.omronhealthcare.com.

About Bob Greene

Bob Greene is an exercise physiologist and certified personal trainer specializing in fitness, metabolism and weight. He holds a master's degree from the University of Arizona and is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Council on Exercise.  For the past seventeen years he has worked with clients and consulted on the design and management of fitness, spa, and sports medicine programs. He is also a contributing editor for O the Oprah magazine, and writes articles on health and fitness for Oprah.com.  Greene is the bestselling author of 20 Years Younger, The Best Life Diet Cookbook, The Best Life Diet Daily Journal, Bob Greene's Total Body Makeover, Get with the Program!, The Get with the Program! Daily Journal, The Get with the Program! Guide to Good Eating, Make the Connection and Keep the Connection.

Media Contact: Angela Salerno
312-233-1243
[email protected]

SOURCE Omron Healthcare, Inc.